So the place where I work has a lot of learning stuff. I use this to make a timer that in no way whatsoever bears any resemblance to an explosive device.

In my defense, it's super hard to make a homemade digital timer that doesn't look like a bomb. Just ask Ahmed Mohamed.

Step 1: Things You Need

- PicoCricket (pictured)
- Beamer (pictured)
- Light (pictured)
- Button (pictured)
- Display (pictured)
- Cables (pictured)
- Computer (not pictured)

I used some of that blue tacky stuff (pictured) to stick my thing together. Nothing worse than having your thing dangle all over the place.

Step 2: Sticking the Thing in the Thing

Use the cables to connect the Light, Button, and Display to the main PicoCricket base thing.

Step 3: Code That MoBo

- Open the PicoBlocks program and go to the text editor.
- In the top section, copy+paste (or type it you animal) the code in the attached txt file.
- The code gives you options for up to a 60 second timer, in increments of 10, but also including 15 and 45.

Countdown code.txt
Download

Step 4: The Magic of Shoddy IR

- To set the timer for the desired time, (for example 30 seconds) type "start from30" (no quotation marks) into the bottom section of the screen and hit Enter or Return.
- If the Beamer and the PicoCricket are lined up correctly, there'll be some flashing lights as the computer sends the program.

Step 5: BOOM!!!

Now you're ready to go. When the light is blue, it's basically on standby. Hit the attached button and it turns green, that means it's ready to go. Hit the button again and the timer counts down.

Step 6: Please Comment

Please comment if you like anything about this. It could be the humor, the pretty pictures (eh), the degree of helpfulness, or anything. You can even tell me why you hate it. I don't care. Just comment. It's one of the steps. You have to now.